Johnson & Johnson Launches MONARCH™ Platform in the Middle East

The launch of the first robotically-assisted bronchoscopy platform in the market offers new options for diagnosis and treatment of early-stage lung cancer

First cases also mark the first clinical use of MONARCH™ QUEST AI-enabled navigation in the region

Johnson & Johnson has announced the first robotically-assisted bronchoscopy case in the Middle East using the MONARCH™ Platform. The procedure, which took place at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, marks the introduction of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to the region. In another first for the Middle East region, the case also featured MONARCH™ QUEST, the latest advancement in MONARCH navigation technology, with AI-powered algorithms designed to improve user experience, and integrate with a wide range of mobile and fixed advanced imaging systems.^1-3

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, in part because it is often diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are limited.⁴ The ability to reach and biopsy lung nodules at an earlier stage with tools like the MONARCH Platform is a leap forward in interventional care for patients. If diagnosed at an early stage of lung cancer, up to 90% of people survive at least 5 years; if diagnosed at a late stage 5-year survival can be less than 10%.⁵

“As the company that pioneered the first robotic bronchoscopy platform, we are proud to be bringing this technology to clinicians in a new region of the world,” said Aleksandra Popovic, President, MONARCH, MedTech, Johnson & Johnson. “We are committed to advancing the standard of care in lung cancer by increasing access to meaningful innovation that helps improve outcomes for patients around the world.”

Robotically-assisted bronchoscopy and the MONARCH™ Platform

Robotically-assisted bronchoscopy with the MONARCH™ Platform enables minimally invasive access to and visualization of airways to help clinicians biopsy suspicious lung nodules. Nearly half of early-stage lesions are located in the periphery of the lung, which is difficult to reach with traditional bronchoscopy.⁶ The MONARCH™ Platform can aid clinicians in getting to an early, definitive diagnosis in lung cancer cases, which can help care teams get patients into the treatment pathway faster.

Dr. Zaid Zoumot*, Interventional Pulmonologist and Division Chair, Pulmonary Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said, “Robotically-assisted bronchoscopy represents a breakthrough in how we detect and diagnose lung disease. With this technology, we can reach small lesions⁷* in all segments of the lung⁸, which creates the opportunity to accelerate treatment decisions.”

Leveraging the power of AI for bronchoscopy

MONARCH™ QUEST builds on the platform’s stable reach and precision with its unique scope-in-sheath design and continuous vision for the physician. The software also integrates enhanced navigation in the MONARCH™ Platform with intraprocedural 3D imaging data with the potential to improve accuracy in targeting lung nodules. The digital capabilities in the MONARCH™ Platform now extend from preoperative planning through intraoperative AI-enabled navigation.

The MONARCH™ Platform will be a part of the Polyphonic™ digital ecosystem, which will connect data across world-class surgical technologies, robotics, and surgical software while leveraging the global scale of Johnson & Johnson.

Indications for Use (United States)

The MONARCH™ Bronchoscope and the MONARCH™ Platform and its accessories are intended to provide bronchoscopic visualization of and access to patient airways for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Important Safety Information

Complications from bronchoscopy may include breathing difficulty, vocal cord spasm, hoarseness, slight fever, vomiting, dizziness, bronchial spasm, infection, low blood oxygen, bleeding from biopsied site, or an allergic reaction to medications. More serious complications from bronchoscopy may include collapsed lung, respiratory failure, hemorrhage, burns, heart attack, or cardiac arrhythmia.

References

*679 patients received a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with median lesion size 18.5 (13.5-26.5) mm and median distance from pleural surface 5 (0-16) mm.

* Dr. Zoumot is not a paid consultant for Johnson & Johnson

1. Auris Health, Inc. Technical Review: Nodule Segmentation Algorithm. February 2025. 
2. Auris Health, Inc. Technical Review: Vision 6DoF in Initial Registration. July 2025. 
3. Auris Health, Inc. Technical Review: Scope Tip Pose Estimation in CBCT Images. March 2025. 
4. World Health Organization. Lung Cancer. Accessed January 6, 2026
5. Ning J, Ge T, Jiang M, et al. Early diagnosis of lung cancer: which is the optimal choice?. Aging (Albany NY). 2021;13(4):6214-6227. doi:10.18632/aging.202504 
6. Murgu S, Sterman D, Yasufuku K. Demographic and lesion characteristics in the first 443 subjects enrolled in a multicenter observational real-world robotic bronchoscopy study: interim results from TARGET. Poster presented at: American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology 2022 Annual Conference; August 11-13, 2022; Nashville, TN 
7. Murgu S, Sterman D, Chen A, et al. Prospective, Muli-Center Evaluation of Safety and Diagnostic Accuracy with Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy: Results of the Transbronchial Biopsy Assisted by Robot Guidance in the Evaluation of Tumors of the Lung (TARGET) Trial. American College of Chest Physicians Conference. October 08, 2024. 
8. Chen A, Gillespie C. Robotic Endoscopic Airway Challenge: REACH Assessment. Ann Thorac Surg. 2018;106:294.

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Source:  Johnson & Johnson

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